High resolution tomographic imaging and modelling of notch tip damage in a laminated composite

Synchrotron radiation computed tomography for experimental validation of a tensile strength model for unidirectional fibre-reinforced composites

“…The 4mm wide double-notched coupons were prepared for tensile testing as described in Wright et al [41]. Coupons were cut by abrasive water-jet, which previous research has shown induces no significant damage in similar specimens [41]. Notched samples were used as they enable the damage mechanisms close to final failure to be observed, because it constrains failure in a limited volume accessible by SRCT.…”

“…They were used to manufacture composites with a fibre volume fraction of 55%. The 4mm wide double-notched coupons were prepared for tensile testing as described in Wright et al [41]. Coupons were cut by abrasive water-jet, which previous research has shown induces no significant damage in similar specimens [41].…”

X-ray microtomography analysis of the damage micromechanisms in 3D woven composites under low-velocity impact

“…This limitation can be overcome with the use of X-ray computed tomography (XCT), which can provide 3D information of the damage mechanisms with high resolution without alteration of the specimen. The application of XCT to characterize processing defects and damage micromechanisms in 2D composites is relatively new [10][11][12][13][14] and it has demonstrated its potential to ascertain the beneficial effect of glass fiber hybridization on the energy absorption capability of the 2D woven carbon fiber/epoxy laminates [15]. Moreover, XCT was recently applied to 3D composites [16,17] and, in particular, Gerlach et al [17] used a combination of optical 3D microscopy, ultrasound and low resolution XCT to find out the influence of the z-yarn volume fraction in the delamination resistance.…”

A comparison of multi-scale 3D X-ray tomographic inspection techniques for assessing carbon fibre composite impact damage

“…4(a i-ii). Direct comparison with the SRCT data for the low resolution µCT data indicated that cracks with an opening displacement as low as 30% of the voxel resolution were reliably captured with µCT, in keeping with previous comparisons between µCT and conventional microscopy [11,17]. Fig.…”

“…What is desirable is a technique that offers high resolution to study the internal micromechanical damage in 3D, without the issues of destroying the sample or introducing new damage. To achieve this, synchrotron radiation computed tomography (SRCT) [10][11][12][13][14], and in more recent work synchrotron radiation computed laminography (SRCL) [15,16] have been successfully used to study composite materials at voxel resolutions in the order of 1 micron and below. In comparison, laboratory microfocus computed tomography (µCT) offers routine moderate resolutions, typically several micrometers and above [17][18][19][20][21][22].…”